Much has been said about Cobrinha’s amazing year, but the end result was truly astonishing. The 37-year-old Alliance star solidified an already incredible season by winning his fifth major tournament of the year by taking gold in the 66kg division at the 2017 ADCC World Championships. 

Rubens Charles, as he is properly known, may be 37 years of age but his performance would make grapplers 10 years younger jealous. In 2017 alone he made history by winning the four major IBJJF tournaments (Euros, Pans, Brazilian Nationals and Worlds), which is known as the ‘grand slam’. 

Now a three-time ADCC champion, Cobrinha can claim to have done something no other grappler has done: that is, win a ‘super’ grand slam. 

Cobrinha’s ADCC run saw him take out European Trials winner Uranov Zhakshylyk of Kyrgyzstan in his opening match, Kuba Witkowski of Poland in the quarterfinal, Paulo Miyao in the semifinal and AJ Agazarm in the final. 

It was Cobrinha’s match against AJ that was perhaps his most impressive, for that fact the Brazilian comprehensively outwrestled the gritty American. Agazarm is renowned as one of the best wrestlers in jiu-jitsu, but Cobrinha took him down and worked vice-like positional control for a 6-0 points victory. 

He may claim to be “just a white belt” in wrestling, but Charles showed excellent technique in part thanks to his work with wrestling coach Kenny Johnson of Bolt Wrestling. 

Also worth noting is that Charles did not have a point scored on him throughout the tournament.

WATCH:

• Cobrinha vs Uranov Zhakshylyk
• Cobrinha vs Kuba Witkowski
• Cobrinha vs Paulo Miyao 
• Cobrinha vs AJ Agazarm

All photos: Hywel Teague / FloGrappling

Cobrinha with wrestling coach Kenny Johnson.